The farm gate price of a kilo of palay continued to rise in January, according to data released Wednesday by the Philippine Statistics Authority, which is a boon for farmers but a bane for rice consumers.
Local output growth measured as the gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to ease further this year to 5.4 percent, lower than last year's growth print of 5.6 percent, analysts at the Manila unit of the Dutch giant ING said on Monday.
The government already spent in 11 months P1.02 trillion of its commitment to spend P1.33 trillion in various public infrastructures in 2023, Budget Secretary Mina F. Pangandaman said on Sunday.
Foreign investments approved by various investment promotions agencies reached P394.45 billion in the fourth quarter, more than double the P173.61 billion in the year-earlier period even though a number of IPAs didn’t report any approvals during the period.
The Philippines has taken a major step toward attracting long-term foreign investment with the official signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations for Republic Act No. 12252, the Investors’ Lease Act.
Finance Secretary and Social Security Commission Chairman Frederick D. Go praised the Social Security System (SSS) for launching its Emergency Loan Program (ELP), saying it will help members get faster and easier access to financial support during disasters.
Ischaemic heart diseases, cancer, and strokes are still the deadliest threats in the Philippines. From January to June 2025, 53,985 deaths—nearly one in five—were due to heart disease alone, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The Philippine baby boom has hit the snooze button. Parenthood, once almost automatic, is now treated like a major purchase—priced, budgeted, and often postponed. Diapers and infant formula increasingly feel less like essentials and more like luxury items with designer tags. Timing, finances, and ambition are all carefully calculated before committing to the ultimate life investment.